I bought an 18month old TT TDi a few years back when I was commuting 100 miles a day. I had it remapped to 210bhp. It was fantastic. Bikes in the back, tip runs, family to the south of France (seriously; they were young tho). A really lovely, fun, practical enough and very frugal car. Which is what I needed at the time. So those are my thoughts on why I bought a TDi.
@Daniel Enticknap Wow thats nuts youve never guess from the outside. sold. This was the final factor for me to buy my first TT, picking one up this week.
The Mk 2 TT is aging so well. When it came out it looked kind of ordinary, especially since the Mk1 had been so distinctive, but as it gets older it seems to get more and more stylish every year and I think it's now a properly good looking car. Had to look up prices while watching this, for a full blooded Audi RS model prices are not too bad. Ok it's an older car now, but still, that is a bloody fast car for not a lot of money!
What an awesome review, gets me even more pumped to pick up my mk2 TTRS Plus next week. Already owned one, LOVED it, and nothing even came close since. Fantastic cars !!
Great review James. I have a black 2013 fully optioned TTRS Plus with the paddles. It has an APR remap and puts out similar HP to the vehicle reviewed. The under steer is easily sorted by a 50% softening of the front sway bay, good tyres, camber tweak and a watch of Mr Mansell’s trail breaking tutorial. Once you learn how to drive these cars it’s so much fun looking at the expression on people’s faces when you zip past them at a track day.
@@jrb2135 Hi Scott Mansell on Driver61 Awesome tutorials from a few years ago And using the trail braking on the TTRS loads up the the front and can also be used to rotate the rear allowing you to brake later, get the car rotated and then use the Quattro system to pull you out of the corner
@@NightfallDrives Hi I’m in Australia, more specifically South Australia. We have a circuit here call the Bend which is just fantastic I’m hoping to get over to it in the next few months. Maybe I’ll post a vid
@@cosmicy2k699 that would be interesting to see 👍 I have done a bit of filming overseas (I’m UK based) but will let you know if I’m ever planning a trip to South Australia 😎
I had a re-mapped TTS of this generation and still have a soft spot for it. I do agree with you about the steering. On my 4th 911 and there's no comparison. Unlike the U.K., this car is pretty rare here in the U.S.
Yeah, I was surprised by James’ comment on TT’s being common as you rarely see them in the US. My TTRS was the first one delivered in Houston and I never saw more than two others in four years.
I had the DSG version, had a lot of suspension work to dial out the understeer completely, with KWs, also put it on 18in Oz with cup 2 tyres, turned it into a different car! I used to see a lot around but most were not RS versions. Sold it when the used prices went crazy and made a profit!
I had a mk2 diesel TT. It wasn’t bought new, but the rationale was that I was doing a decent amount of miles, and it still felt sporty compared to what I’d had before. Remember, this is in the 2010s where everyone is being pushed towards diesel. You could get a diesel SLK, and people did buy them. Frankly, that diesel TT was a great car. Another vote here for the mk2 being better looking than the mk3.
These cars are horrifically underrated, majorly I suspect due to the stupid little “hairdresser car” joke from the first generation. They’re fantastic and, aside from the usual Audi understeer, they are supreme cars.
We are definitely off to a good start for the new year when it begins with a review of my car. I own a 2012 TT RS in red with all the same options as this car. Mine had stage 1 remap and probably makes around 400 hp. I mostly agree with your review, but…. In the USA, the TT is not such a common site, at least in my area. Porsches of all ilk are FAR more common. I use my car the way I suspect most do, at least in the USA: back seats down. With the back seats down, there is a HUGE amount of storage area. This is rarely a car that is left at home because something wouldn’t fit. You also end up having real conversation or nods from people about the car: car people know the RS is no ordinary TT. Again, in my country, Audi brought in only 1200-1300 TT RS models in 2012-13 and they were all manual (not auto option). The TT RS Plus was not offered. The car is just plain fun! It is a combo of a small, relatively light, powerful sports car with great storage capacity. I can’t think of another car I’d rather have under $100,000.
I remember when there was the petition to bring these over to North America in 2010 and I signed it even tho I wasn’t in the market for one (I had an e46 m3 at the time). In 2020, I ended up finding one for sale at CarMax and bought it. No regrets 👍
Lovely review! Last summer I bought myself a manual 2010 TTRS Roadster which came from a collector and looked like new with almost no miles with the wingbacks and full option. Fun thing is I was looking at everything except the TTRS, from Lotus to Porsches but it came up online I test drove it and was sold. Probably won't sell it ever again!
I have an mk2 2.0TFSI, and I love it... it has aged so, so well. The TTS and TTRS look incredible too, with their sporty updates and Quattro suspension... buy I love my tt... excellent car for darting around b roads and city driving.
I have one of these albeit the DSG version. I've owned many performance cars over the years but this one just is the best all rounder i've ever had. I absolutely love it. I often embarrass much more expensive and exotic cars at the track as well. Best bang for buck car out there. One word re the on road and steering 'feel'. Next time turn the driver aids completely off, it makes quite a difference. Great video 👍
same, i own a stage2 dsg rs (edit: w dsg remap as well, so no auto shift up and shifts are a lot faster and crisper), people think in weaker cars that they have a chance while usually I end up in the same category as aston martins and ferraris when it comes to "road race" the only time i turned the driver aids off i crashed the car in the wet, so I keep them on, but I rebuilt it and it runs just as good... it helps, that most of the parts are cross compatible with normal tt-s so part prices are relatively cheap... also I have bought it as stage2 for 17k, so I think i am still at my money even if i sell it in this condition... front and rear feel can be helped with different ARB setups as well the car before the "chip shortage" was a must buy for 15-20k, for 25k I would think about it tho... mainly if it is stock and still need 4-5k worth of stuff to make it stage2
I REALLY miss my TTRS. I had a Suzuka Grey with almost every option on it, including those bucket seats. It was DSG which I preferred over the manual having tried both. The only problem I found with it is the under-steering… I have a 911 now and realise how heavy this generation of TT was at the front. God I miss that sound!
Have to agree. Owning an E8x 1 Series with the 3L 6cyl. The 3.2 TT I drove definitely didn't feel as sharp up front as the BMW. Required more steering input and really wanted to push a wider compared to the 1 series. Otherwise hard to fault. I liked the driving position and the DSG was super responsive.
@@ArmadaAsesino the stiffer rear sway bar really sorted it out on mine, along with a lot of track prep, but now I'm in the Megane, much much different car but actually over a lap of the ring.. quicker 🤣
Great reviews on this channel and this is no different. I love my 2008 model, daily driven, kept in pristine condition and looking better than new, meteor grey, aftermarket wheels and front grille. A proper drivers car and a head turner. Easy to maintain and a lot of bang for the money.
Traded a 2018 TTRS for a 2022 Cayman S. Miss my TTRS, but have to admit the Cayman is just a much better car. The perfect car for me would be a Cayman with the TTRS engine. Happy New Year James!
Nice, I bought mine because it checked off all the boxes: rare, beautiful, practical, and fun! I did some cross shopping with the Cayman S, S2000, even an ISF, but those all had drawbacks I couldn't get past, most of all was feeling quite cramped. Also, I'm big on sensory feedback, so while the steering isn't perfect, driving something that sounds this good just puttering around just does it for me.
I was waiting forever for this video to be released. I own a manual RS Coupé since 2019. It‘s such a gem. Loads and loads of driving fun, no matter if you go for the Nordschleife to chase a few Porsches or just drive local backroads. The car has been dead reliable and I‘m 100% sure, that these manual 5 cylinder Audis will be future classics. I also bought a 3.2 Roadster in 2022 which is also a brilliant little car.
Thank you James and good to see you pushing it on those often wet UK roads. Mine is red as well but a 2 litre. Agree with everything you said about the car, particularly the comment about the looks of the Mk2 over the Mk 3. Mine is fairly comfortable on 18 inch wheels and IMO look better suited to the car. The funny thing about the TT in Oz is that they are very rare and always get the looks over the more common Porches BMW's & Mercs. I even had a Japanese tourist photographing his girlfriend next to my car at a café nearby lol. The manual RS's in red will hopefully be my next car if I can find one as I can daily it and it should go up in value like my current TT has in OZ. I can sell my TT it now for the same price I paid for it 5 years ago after doing 80,000 kms, now on 150,000. Also a very reliable car (if serviced and replace weak points) I have ever owned. Also not sure if you are aware, but most TTs were sold to the UK so that's why there everywhere and have a great community.
I guess we are luckier in Oz as far as exclusivity goes with the TTRS or any TT as our previous J8 Black Manual 2.0 used to get plenty of street admiration. Same for our J8 Black Manual TTRS with fixed spoiler, but with added aggressive obvious hooning of perceived powerful competitors and others that have to prove something. ;-) :-)
That soundtrack is epic & worth the purchase price alone, takes me back to watching the Quattro with MM at the helm rallying in the forests back in the day. Never considered an Audi before, but got me thinking now. Great review 👍
Excellent review. Gives me old school top gear vibes. I love the TT, and I am currently on my second mk3. Wish I had an RS. That 5 cyl sound is the best noise in the motoring world for me, personally.
I always thought the return of the 5-cylinder engine to sporty Audis was one of the coolest moves that company ever made. A signature mechanical element that elevates the baby RS's above their competition without the risk of troubling Porsche's place in the range. Rally fans expect the sound belongs to a proper Audi well before the car enters the sightlines.
A pretty impressive car in a time where most of its German rivals still relied on naturally aspirated engines. Sadly the only experience I have with these is how difficult they were to chase down in Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 😅
I bought a mark 2 diesel tt and loved it. I bought it because I couldn't justify the cost of running the petrol one. But I changed it two years later for a mark 3 tts. And it was a different animal. Beautiful car to drive but too thirsty for mere mortals, especially nowadays.
Exactly. Seems people have to assume the biggest engine is best. Not everyone requires 350+ bhp and an exhaust that can wake their late grandfather. Where can you actually use an RS to its absolute potential In the UK? With consistent bad weather,crap uneven and potholed road surfaces and heavily camera laden roads the lesser engine cars seem a more viable option. I’ll put it like this. I can hammer my 1.8 TT all day every day and have fun and not be in licence losing territory. It goes ok,still gets masses of compliments from everyday folk and it’s bought and payed for many years ago. I could go right now and buy the latest TTRS with money in my current account. Would I feel it was worth the extra 60 grand? No. The TDI was a car for people who wanted economy with sporting looks that a mere Golf couldn’t give. It’s a juxtaposed car granted but I can’t imagine one is as dismissive as James would say it is. 50+ mpg, decent enough chassis and a car that looks good plus it’s not exactly a slug ( ok maybe compared to an RS or S it’s not exactly rapid) but you can see that there was a market for the lesser models.
I still remember test driving a Mk 3 TT RS in the Black Forest a few years ago back to back with 5 other Audis. The TT RS was more fun than the R8 Spyder on that drive. I’d choose the Mk 3 for the more special interior, but this one looks like a lovely thing too and much more reasonably priced by comparison.
Something to consider : the overwhelming popularity of the TT you speak of is DEFINITELY a UK thing. Here in Canada, a TT is as rare a sight as any Porsche, if not rarer.
Sorry not in the same Money Class as you guys, back in the day, I lived in South Africa. I bought "Brand New" from the Audi dealer a 3.2L V6 TT, I thought it was great and drove it through the "hills" from George to Oudshoorn at least once a week, loved it!
Hey there from Canada. I have a white 2010 TTS with Mag Ride. The guy I bought it from put a TTRS front bumper and side skirts though. I actually prefer the 2nd Gen (8J) styling to that of the MK3. IMHO, the lines are better, smoother, and more cohesive. I'm not a fan of the rear wing either. I think the pop up spoiler at 125km/h is much cooler. I always thought that the lighter 4 cyl. engine in the TTS would handle better than in the TTRS with the heavier 5 cyl. engine. That said if ever my engine fails...(knock on wood), I would love to source a used 5 Cyl. engine as a replacement. The 265hp of my TTS (actually 295hp with Unironic Stg. 1) is way more power than I need. Coming from a 2008 VW R32 to only, pet peeve about my TTS is the exhaust note. BORING!!! The R32's VR6 with stock exhaust gave me goosebumps. The TTRS though not sounding as good as that, sounds pretty damn good in stock form. I love my car and it has been reliable and decent on fuel. The size of the back seat is just big enough to snuggly fit my wheelchair frame and rear wheels without them moving around much if at all. I can't do that with a Porsche. The 2009-10 also could be fitted with a trailer hitch and tow 1000lbs. (I tow my light duty trailer like it's not even there.) It is great for hauling my ride-on lawn tractor to get serviced and greatly adds to the practically of living with this as a daily driver sport car. I've also bought a plow blade kit (Snowsport 180 (only in Canada...ha ha)) that easily mounts on the back using the hitch receiver. I've saved thousands of $$$ over the years plowing (in reverse) my own driveway, all in the warmth and comfort of my car. The AWD TTS (+ the snow plow kit) has been great dealing with the brutal snow storms we often get through the winter.
:) fascinating. I owned this exact car a couple of years back for about a year. :). Intrigued if it really does have the full stage 1 remap to 440 bhp. When I had it it's already had a change of air filter I don't know if it was a change in ECU as well. Happy driving :)
I've been looking at getting a more interesting daily next year and this just got added to the list. I don't do many miles and considering I'm Audi through and through I'm disappointed in myself for forgetting about this, especially the manual!
Thanks James, awesome video. The Audi 5 cylinders are just magic sounding, topped only by the LFA and Carrera GT 10’s I think! My question for you though is - TT RS or GR Yaris?
@@xRoRox Yeah, Volkswagen reliability has been atrocious in recent years. My 2017 Golf has had many problems, mostly plastic pieces breaking everywhere.
@@xRoRox I've owned a string of VW products from the MK2 Golf onwards. Build quality in the MK2/MK3 Golf era were good, and I think it peaked in the MK4 Golf/MK1 TT, B5 A4 era. After that, everything felt cheaper When we had the MK2 TT, it had so many rattles compared to the early 2000s stuff. 2015 onwards is a minefield of waiting for a big failure.
@@Canadian_Gamer it’s kinda sad really. Here’s my list: Wiring loom snapped Door seals have gone Stereo buttons won’t press when it’s cold (sounds stupid but it really annoys me) Windows sometimes refuse to work Spoiler gets stuck half way Sunvisor bracket keeps breaking (OEM parts) Rattle from the boot, turned out to be a loose bolt rolling about inside the fascia General squeaky noises when on rougher tarmac Would I pay 30k new for one? No Used for 7k. Yes No Bluetooth also annoys me a little but I guess you can’t have everything 😂
@@xRoRox My 2017 Golf has had the interior vent clips snap off on the rear of the centre console just from feet hitting it getting in and out of the car. The drivers side plastic mirror casing has popped off twice while rubbing a wash brush against it and occasionally the dash light for the rear license plate bulb comes on for no reason. The haptic feedback on the in-dash screen is also atrocious.
@Jay: I was one of the people who owned a TT TDI for three years.. Yeah looking back a weird decision but overall a rational one. in that time I needed to drive about 30k km/year for my job. Diesel was the economical way to do that in Germany. The main reason i bought the TDI was a great offer from my dealer. I intended to buy a Golf with the same engine, 3 doors and 4 motion Lead times were lomg and for only 1000 more and funny enough way cheaper insurance I bought the TT the boot/trunk was big enough to fit my downhill bike. and so i was of to the races with that TT :D Loved it and YES it was silly but coming from a Golf... :D great on the Autobahn, too.
Love the 5 cylinder turbo AWDs. If you're in Texas, come try out my V70R. Also great for carrying a dog but unlike the TT, without folding the rear seat!
A remap on these is about 420bhp Full stage 2 is 450 on a happy Dyno.The carbon bit's were standard on the plus. I have a Wavetrac LSD and KW V3's coil-overs etc on mine all helps!
Happy new year. Nice review and great work. This car has been on my top 10 list for some time and I appreciated the insight. Based on your review its still on the list :) . Looking forward to more reviews in 2023. Cheers from MI.
Buying a mk2 ttrs roadster next month. Ive done lots of research and its easily the best bang for your buck. A simple remap takes these cars very close to a mk1 r8.
Didn't know an RS Plus existed to be fair, the more you know. These gen TTRS in general are still pretty sought after or bought by petrolheads today to be fair and apparently are very tunable
Excellent review, had considered this when buying a sports car years ago, everything was great except the steering so went Porsche. If I had needed more practicality then would have gone for an M3 over the TT
I’ve got a mk3 tdi ultra, it’s does 65mpg regular, £20 tax, same service costs as a golf, no Quattro problems to worry about, couldn’t afford the running costs of the petrol, I suppose I get fraction of the experience but I’m ok with that 🤷🏻♂️
Nice channel. I only just discovered it the other day and watched a few vids. Good content, well delivered, well spoken and you touch the points I am specifically interested about as a car enthusiast. Keep it up! I am in the market for a TT RS so this video is good research :)
The TTRS Mk.2 (which I personally call the Titties R Us), is the closest modern equivalent to an Audi Quattro. And that's why, to me, it's the coolest modern Audi. I even considered buying one, and I'm not a VAG fan.
I enjoyed this more than I should of. I guess it’s a vs against the TTS which makes sense. No idea how I ended up here but It was a good video…would like to see you do something more modern. Good video to send to Audi press though. I’ve subbed, keep it up.
I test drove one of these a few years ago and really wanted to like it. While it was plenty fast and sounded pretty good, the steering feel was completely absent, and I just couldn't get past that. Having driven a Lotus in the past I may have been spoiled on steering feel, but the TTRS's was just completely numb.
The harsh ride quality was the reason I never bought one of these (and the reason I sold my S3). Fantastic car but very hard to live with as a daily if you live in a city with rubbish roads, which most are.
I went from a lightly modded 2012 STi to one of these and can say they feel VERY similar on road or track. As I'm getting older (44) I think the Audi suited me better and the driveline seems to be more reliable than the Subaru . . .
The quattro drivetrain has always been strong. The engineers at Audi really did the business developing the 5cyl & quattro in the late 70s and throughout the 80s. Fantastic ambition & true pioneers. I think Audi lost the plot by dropping the 5cyl in the 90s. The TT RS was a return to the magic formula 👍
I had gen 3 TT and loved the interior and performance but hated the turbo lag and the precipitous loss of value. Now I have a Z4 3.0si and miss the cushy comfort, but love the torque and driver engagement and its now worth significantly more than I paid for it.
I recently sold my 2013 TTS. I'm heartbroken about it. It was a perfect car for me after years of practical Dad cars. But it was awfully practical aside from having a backseat that was only suitable for children without legs. It's tragic they won't be making them any more.
Ok, so I'm looking to add a 3rd car to my stable. Currently, I have a disco 4 and an exige. I live in a cold environment, with a good amount of snow 4-5 months a year, so awd is a plus. The TTRS is at the bottom of my list price wise, but I've wanted one since they came out. Other options in my list have the r8 v10 rtronic, r8 v8 manual, 996 gt3, 996 turbo, 996 c4s, etc. No 997s, I've owned a c2s, and the gt3 is out of budget. I'm also considering gt350r (the noise!) and v8 vantages. I feel like I'd be more keen to drive the TTRS more often than the others. I'm not sure why (maybe the value), but that's a plus also. Am I being a bit silly for considering the TTRS over the other cars on my list?
I agree with the 19" problem. I drive an Audi S1 and on the A1's that share the same wheel pattern as the TT, 19" is far too harsh of a ride in comparison to 18 or 17s. A lot of people fit 18s with 225 40 18 tyres instead of stock 225 35 18 for better ride. After doing that I didn't question missing mag ride.
a1 is 5x100 and tt 8j is 5x112 and tt is based on golf platform opposite to a1 as it`s based on vw polo/ skoda fabia platform. I`m using 18 inch wheels on my tt and its ok.
so I am not allowed to say anything on my 20" 255 wheels (audi le mans optional extras for the rs) but they are doing fine and not as harsh as you would think on a non-mag ride car also I came from a 3.2 mk2 w 18" wheels and mag ride and that felt worse than this...
My car also has five cylinders so is practically identical to this. With just a few exceptions. 1) It's a 2005 Volvo S80 D5 SE Lux and, by comparison a land yacht, 2) It's a diesel and 3) It's worth less than £1,000. Otherwise, they're the same car.
I test drove a diesel in 2009 because it was the only one that I could have had on the company car scheme. Front heavy and tried to push wide, so disappointing. I didn’t get one but emissions driven car schemes might be one reason people had them. In the event I canned the car scheme and got my own e90 330i!
I remember when this car came out and it was absolutely trashed for the heavy front end and understeer. Now just because it’s older it’s suddenly peak Audi. The new cars are better in just about every conceivable way.
The thing is on the road, you have to be driving like a total nutcase to make them understeer. A lot of reviews back when this car came out were track based, and on a track you will notice the understeer way more, because its much easier & safer to drive on the limit there. Its kind of an unfair test on it because its not really designed for the track, its designed to be an all weather, easy to use, fast road car - hence why it understeers, because its more predictable and easier to get out of. It isn't really any different for the mk3 TT, but since a lot of hot hatches now have this kind of power and understeer, it doesn't stand out as something weird anymore. Also you can tune the car to be more tail happy fairly inexpensively, with a stiffer rear ARB for example.
How trends change. Diesel TTs got mocked for being wannabe supercars, now those are gone and we have wannabe crossovers. Everyone's getting ready for the next apocalypse it seems.
I prefer the sound of the older five cylinder cars, like the Type43 and 44 Audis, and Volvos 850/70. The less agressive but more melodious. ..but: I do enjoy a good engine, and i would be very hard pressed to choose even a six cylinder over the five pot burble. So yeah, this would win over the wonderful Porsches for me.
As a former owner of one of these and a number of other RS Audis I have to say that the steering in these was horrible; very vague and no feedback. The car also understeers significantly and is very reluctant to turn into corners. The Mk3 TT RS, by comparison, is in a different league with none of those faults; the front end feels very light and it turns in very sharply, no doubt due to the torque vectoring. I found the Mk2 disappointing and the least enjoyable RS Audi I have driven.
Would love to see you in an 8P RS3 as it was of the same generation as this. Personally I was very disappointed with my RS3 having owned AMG and M Cars prior, I assumed this would be largely the same! Maybe be I assumed wrong
"looks a bit like an R8"?! Errrr... No, not unless you have cataracts 😂 A friend had one until recently. I didn't get a chance to drive it but it was impressively rapid and sounded great. Through the bends it seemed to have plenty grip but even from the passenger seat I could feel the systems working their hardest to get it round without falling off the road. Oh, yeah, and he took it track where it was genuinely scary fast but never felt fully under control. He crashed it... Twice!
I bought an 18month old TT TDi a few years back when I was commuting 100 miles a day. I had it remapped to 210bhp. It was fantastic. Bikes in the back, tip runs, family to the south of France (seriously; they were young tho). A really lovely, fun, practical enough and very frugal car. Which is what I needed at the time. So those are my thoughts on why I bought a TDi.
Wait how did you fit bikes in a TT? Wheels off?
@@FaulksDigital Yes, wheels off. Fitted with no issues plus all my kit.
@Daniel Enticknap Wow thats nuts youve never guess from the outside. sold. This was the final factor for me to buy my first TT, picking one up this week.
Diesel sports car....
@@ArtVandelayOfficial German efficiency. Thank Rudolf C K Diesel.
The Mk 2 TT is aging so well. When it came out it looked kind of ordinary, especially since the Mk1 had been so distinctive, but as it gets older it seems to get more and more stylish every year and I think it's now a properly good looking car. Had to look up prices while watching this, for a full blooded Audi RS model prices are not too bad. Ok it's an older car now, but still, that is a bloody fast car for not a lot of money!
5 cylinder turbo in a relatively light car and 4WD makes this absolutely fantastic and it looks way better in my opinion than people always say
Relatively light 🤣🤣🤣
@@sklyrovka Under 1600Kg I think it is relatively light. Looks and sounds good too.
It's just a lot of money for a "sports car" that won't drift IMHO.
@@BigUriel the fwd biased AWD system is what puts me off massively too. Truly a lot of money for a car without any rear end play
Light 😂 it’s a fat bish
@@antonis5999 it can be altered.
What an awesome review, gets me even more pumped to pick up my mk2 TTRS Plus next week. Already owned one, LOVED it, and nothing even came close since. Fantastic cars !!
I'm interested in getting myself one too. Got a few options in the 3k-4k range with 150k miles on them on a 2010 model. How much is it costing you?
Great review James.
I have a black 2013 fully optioned TTRS Plus with the paddles. It has an APR remap and puts out similar HP to the vehicle reviewed. The under steer is easily sorted by a 50% softening of the front sway bay, good tyres, camber tweak and a watch of Mr Mansell’s trail breaking tutorial. Once you learn how to drive these cars it’s so much fun looking at the expression on people’s faces when you zip past them at a track day.
If you don’t mind me asking who is Mr. Mansell and where do u find his trail breaking tutorials? Tried looking him up but nothing came up.
@@jrb2135 Hi
Scott Mansell on Driver61
Awesome tutorials from a few years ago
And using the trail braking on the TTRS loads up the the front and can also be used to rotate the rear allowing you to brake later, get the car rotated and then use the Quattro system to pull you out of the corner
Always loved the idea of these - if you might like to star in a driving video on yours, give me a shout 😎
@@NightfallDrives Hi
I’m in Australia, more specifically South Australia. We have a circuit here call the Bend which is just fantastic
I’m hoping to get over to it in the next few months. Maybe I’ll post a vid
@@cosmicy2k699 that would be interesting to see 👍 I have done a bit of filming overseas (I’m UK based) but will let you know if I’m ever planning a trip to South Australia 😎
I had a re-mapped TTS of this generation and still have a soft spot for it. I do agree with you about the steering. On my 4th 911 and there's no comparison. Unlike the U.K., this car is pretty rare here in the U.S.
Yeah, I was surprised by James’ comment on TT’s being common as you rarely see them in the US. My TTRS was the first one delivered in Houston and I never saw more than two others in four years.
@@M_IkeLeBlanc the mk 1 and mk2 were everywhere in the UK
Is it just me or do these still look incredible today...
I just bought an amplified edition as a daily. Love it 💯🍊
Agreed, the facelifted cars have aged beautifully especially
They look like a fake sports car for dads.
@@youtubegarbage7876 Until you try and take it over lol
I had the DSG version, had a lot of suspension work to dial out the understeer completely, with KWs, also put it on 18in Oz with cup 2 tyres, turned it into a different car! I used to see a lot around but most were not RS versions. Sold it when the used prices went crazy and made a profit!
I had a mk2 diesel TT. It wasn’t bought new, but the rationale was that I was doing a decent amount of miles, and it still felt sporty compared to what I’d had before.
Remember, this is in the 2010s where everyone is being pushed towards diesel. You could get a diesel SLK, and people did buy them. Frankly, that diesel TT was a great car.
Another vote here for the mk2 being better looking than the mk3.
These cars are horrifically underrated, majorly I suspect due to the stupid little “hairdresser car” joke from the first generation. They’re fantastic and, aside from the usual Audi understeer, they are supreme cars.
@dt3963 that's a good thing. Keep the resale value lower. Since I don't own mine yet haha
Looks absolutely spectacular! A timeless design by Audi from their peak era in the 21st century.
We are definitely off to a good start for the new year when it begins with a review of my car. I own a 2012 TT RS in red with all the same options as this car. Mine had stage 1 remap and probably makes around 400 hp. I mostly agree with your review, but…. In the USA, the TT is not such a common site, at least in my area. Porsches of all ilk are FAR more common. I use my car the way I suspect most do, at least in the USA: back seats down. With the back seats down, there is a HUGE amount of storage area. This is rarely a car that is left at home because something wouldn’t fit. You also end up having real conversation or nods from people about the car: car people know the RS is no ordinary TT. Again, in my country, Audi brought in only 1200-1300 TT RS models in 2012-13 and they were all manual (not auto option). The TT RS Plus was not offered. The car is just plain fun! It is a combo of a small, relatively light, powerful sports car with great storage capacity. I can’t think of another car I’d rather have under $100,000.
I remember when there was the petition to bring these over to North America in 2010 and I signed it even tho I wasn’t in the market for one (I had an e46 m3 at the time). In 2020, I ended up finding one for sale at CarMax and bought it. No regrets 👍
Lovely review! Last summer I bought myself a manual 2010 TTRS Roadster which came from a collector and looked like new with almost no miles with the wingbacks and full option. Fun thing is I was looking at everything except the TTRS, from Lotus to Porsches but it came up online I test drove it and was sold. Probably won't sell it ever again!
Big Audi fan, but being honest I never liked an Audi TT. But this being a 6 speed manual, 5 cylinder, these are going to be big collectors items.
Its quite the opposite here in the US. Porches are everywhere but spotting a TT is a more rare thing.
I have an mk2 2.0TFSI, and I love it... it has aged so, so well. The TTS and TTRS look incredible too, with their sporty updates and Quattro suspension... buy I love my tt... excellent car for darting around b roads and city driving.
I have one of these albeit the DSG version. I've owned many performance cars over the years but this one just is the best all rounder i've ever had. I absolutely love it. I often embarrass much more expensive and exotic cars at the track as well. Best bang for buck car out there. One word re the on road and steering 'feel'. Next time turn the driver aids completely off, it makes quite a difference. Great video 👍
same, i own a stage2 dsg rs (edit: w dsg remap as well, so no auto shift up and shifts are a lot faster and crisper), people think in weaker cars that they have a chance while usually I end up in the same category as aston martins and ferraris when it comes to "road race"
the only time i turned the driver aids off i crashed the car in the wet, so I keep them on, but I rebuilt it and it runs just as good... it helps, that most of the parts are cross compatible with normal tt-s so part prices are relatively cheap...
also I have bought it as stage2 for 17k, so I think i am still at my money even if i sell it in this condition...
front and rear feel can be helped with different ARB setups as well
the car before the "chip shortage" was a must buy for 15-20k, for 25k I would think about it tho... mainly if it is stock and still need 4-5k worth of stuff to make it stage2
@@UKfromadrone What caused you to crash?
I REALLY miss my TTRS. I had a Suzuka Grey with almost every option on it, including those bucket seats. It was DSG which I preferred over the manual having tried both. The only problem I found with it is the under-steering… I have a 911 now and realise how heavy this generation of TT was at the front. God I miss that sound!
Thanks for the comment as this car is on my list of next one(s) to purchase
Have to agree. Owning an E8x 1 Series with the 3L 6cyl. The 3.2 TT I drove definitely didn't feel as sharp up front as the BMW. Required more steering input and really wanted to push a wider compared to the 1 series. Otherwise hard to fault. I liked the driving position and the DSG was super responsive.
@@ArmadaAsesino the stiffer rear sway bar really sorted it out on mine, along with a lot of track prep, but now I'm in the Megane, much much different car but actually over a lap of the ring.. quicker 🤣
I own at 8j TTS and i was thinking of upgrading to at TTRS 8j :'( its a dillema
Nice video with lots of info, sub'd and thank you, got an Nardo Grey 2018 TTRS with only 17K miles on her.
Great reviews on this channel and this is no different. I love my 2008 model, daily driven, kept in pristine condition and looking better than new, meteor grey, aftermarket wheels and front grille. A proper drivers car and a head turner. Easy to maintain and a lot of bang for the money.
Traded a 2018 TTRS for a 2022 Cayman S.
Miss my TTRS, but have to admit the Cayman is just a much better car.
The perfect car for me would be a Cayman with the TTRS engine.
Happy New Year James!
Nice, I bought mine because it checked off all the boxes: rare, beautiful, practical, and fun! I did some cross shopping with the Cayman S, S2000, even an ISF, but those all had drawbacks I couldn't get past, most of all was feeling quite cramped. Also, I'm big on sensory feedback, so while the steering isn't perfect, driving something that sounds this good just puttering around just does it for me.
I crossed shop this with an M2 (non comp) a couple years back and preferred the TT RS
I was waiting forever for this video to be released.
I own a manual RS Coupé since 2019.
It‘s such a gem.
Loads and loads of driving fun, no matter if you go for the Nordschleife to chase a few Porsches or just drive local backroads.
The car has been dead reliable and I‘m 100% sure, that these manual 5 cylinder Audis will be future classics.
I also bought a 3.2 Roadster in 2022 which is also a brilliant little car.
Are both your cars Mk2?
@@GTRuppsala yes, Mk2 RS and Mk2 3.2
But I sold the RS last year in favour of a 996 Turbo
I love those engines. Even more so the original 5cyl. Great review as always 👏 👍
Thank you James and good to see you pushing it on those often wet UK roads. Mine is red as well but a 2 litre. Agree with everything you said about the car, particularly the comment about the looks of the Mk2 over the Mk 3. Mine is fairly comfortable on 18 inch wheels and IMO look better suited to the car. The funny thing about the TT in Oz is that they are very rare and always get the looks over the more common Porches BMW's & Mercs. I even had a Japanese tourist photographing his girlfriend next to my car at a café nearby lol.
The manual RS's in red will hopefully be my next car if I can find one as I can daily it and it should go up in value like my current TT has in OZ. I can sell my TT it now for the same price I paid for it 5 years ago after doing 80,000 kms, now on 150,000. Also a very reliable car (if serviced and replace weak points) I have ever owned. Also not sure if you are aware, but most TTs were sold to the UK so that's why there everywhere and have a great community.
I guess we are luckier in Oz as far as exclusivity goes with the TTRS or any TT as our previous J8 Black Manual 2.0 used to get plenty of street admiration. Same for our J8 Black Manual TTRS with fixed spoiler, but with added aggressive obvious hooning of perceived powerful competitors and others that have to prove something. ;-) :-)
That soundtrack is epic & worth the purchase price alone, takes me back to watching the Quattro with MM at the helm rallying in the forests back in the day.
Never considered an Audi before, but got me thinking now.
Great review 👍
Excellent review. Gives me old school top gear vibes. I love the TT, and I am currently on my second mk3. Wish I had an RS. That 5 cyl sound is the best noise in the motoring world for me, personally.
A mate of mine in Australia has one of these and with the right exhaust, it can sound remarkably like an R8 V10
I always thought the return of the 5-cylinder engine to sporty Audis was one of the coolest moves that company ever made. A signature mechanical element that elevates the baby RS's above their competition without the risk of troubling Porsche's place in the range. Rally fans expect the sound belongs to a proper Audi well before the car enters the sightlines.
I like how the kept the vents from the mk1 and changed the surround.
Really getting quite fond of the MkII TT and of course especially that 5-cylinder. Hmm... Superb review as always, thanks.
A pretty impressive car in a time where most of its German rivals still relied on naturally aspirated engines. Sadly the only experience I have with these is how difficult they were to chase down in Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit 😅
I bought a mark 2 diesel tt and loved it. I bought it because I couldn't justify the cost of running the petrol one. But I changed it two years later for a mark 3 tts. And it was a different animal. Beautiful car to drive but too thirsty for mere mortals, especially nowadays.
Exactly. Seems people have to assume the biggest engine is best. Not everyone requires 350+ bhp and an exhaust that can wake their late grandfather. Where can you actually use an RS to its absolute potential In the UK? With consistent bad weather,crap uneven and potholed road surfaces and heavily camera laden roads the lesser engine cars seem a more viable option. I’ll put it like this. I can hammer my 1.8 TT all day every day and have fun and not be in licence losing territory. It goes ok,still gets masses of compliments from everyday folk and it’s bought and payed for many years ago. I could go right now and buy the latest TTRS with money in my current account. Would I feel it was worth the extra 60 grand? No. The TDI was a car for people who wanted economy with sporting looks that a mere Golf couldn’t give. It’s a juxtaposed car granted but I can’t imagine one is as dismissive as James would say it is. 50+ mpg, decent enough chassis and a car that looks good plus it’s not exactly a slug ( ok maybe compared to an RS or S it’s not exactly rapid) but you can see that there was a market for the lesser models.
As a RS3 owner, 2018 sportsback, that 5 cylinders is so cool
We've got mk3 Honda CRV and I never really noticed them much but now having one there are millions of the things on the road.
Always wanted the golf VR5 just for the sound alone
The Golf V5 does sound nice, but imo not as good as the old Audi straight 5s, which sing up to 6.5/7k. I own cars with both engines 🙂
These were quick but the fwd biased & front heavy weight dist. with Mk5 base chassis limited how well it handled/:fun to drive it was.
I still remember test driving a Mk 3 TT RS in the Black Forest a few years ago back to back with 5 other Audis. The TT RS was more fun than the R8 Spyder on that drive. I’d choose the Mk 3 for the more special interior, but this one looks like a lovely thing too and much more reasonably priced by comparison.
Something to consider : the overwhelming popularity of the TT you speak of is DEFINITELY a UK thing. Here in Canada, a TT is as rare a sight as any Porsche, if not rarer.
Sorry not in the same Money Class as you guys, back in the day, I lived in South Africa. I bought "Brand New" from the Audi dealer a 3.2L V6 TT, I thought it was great and drove it through the "hills" from George to Oudshoorn at least once a week, loved it!
Hey there from Canada. I have a white 2010 TTS with Mag Ride. The guy I bought it from put a TTRS front bumper and side skirts though. I actually prefer the 2nd Gen (8J) styling to that of the MK3. IMHO, the lines are better, smoother, and more cohesive. I'm not a fan of the rear wing either. I think the pop up spoiler at 125km/h is much cooler. I always thought that the lighter 4 cyl. engine in the TTS would handle better than in the TTRS with the heavier 5 cyl. engine. That said if ever my engine fails...(knock on wood), I would love to source a used 5 Cyl. engine as a replacement. The 265hp of my TTS (actually 295hp with Unironic Stg. 1) is way more power than I need. Coming from a 2008 VW R32 to only, pet peeve about my TTS is the exhaust note. BORING!!! The R32's VR6 with stock exhaust gave me goosebumps. The TTRS though not sounding as good as that, sounds pretty damn good in stock form. I love my car and it has been reliable and decent on fuel. The size of the back seat is just big enough to snuggly fit my wheelchair frame and rear wheels without them moving around much if at all. I can't do that with a Porsche. The 2009-10 also could be fitted with a trailer hitch and tow 1000lbs. (I tow my light duty trailer like it's not even there.) It is great for hauling my ride-on lawn tractor to get serviced and greatly adds to the practically of living with this as a daily driver sport car. I've also bought a plow blade kit (Snowsport 180 (only in Canada...ha ha)) that easily mounts on the back using the hitch receiver. I've saved thousands of $$$ over the years plowing (in reverse) my own driveway, all in the warmth and comfort of my car. The AWD TTS (+ the snow plow kit) has been great dealing with the brutal snow storms we often get through the winter.
I just bought a TTRS Plus, what a mind blowing car
Seems like a great used car option. Certainly better on petrol than my cayman 2.9 considering the TT having way more power
You can get a good tune from APR here in the states for a solid 400whp. Looks cracking good too!
Good driving sir. If that's the kind of weather you guys deal with on a regular basis. Couldn't see that good. 😊 Cool car everyone has a Porsche.👍😎😎🔥
:) fascinating. I owned this exact car a couple of years back for about a year. :). Intrigued if it really does have the full stage 1 remap to 440 bhp. When I had it it's already had a change of air filter I don't know if it was a change in ECU as well. Happy driving :)
I've been looking at getting a more interesting daily next year and this just got added to the list. I don't do many miles and considering I'm Audi through and through I'm disappointed in myself for forgetting about this, especially the manual!
You may see them everywhere in the UK. In the US, they're quite rare. Also, there isn't much demand for them except among car enthusiast.
I have a 13 TT RS and have yet to see another MK2 TT or TTS much less an RS here in the US
@@michaelflier3971 I have a 2012 ttrs from Canada in Sepang blue. I have seen so far 4 others in my area. Awesome cars
@@Cr1spo4 Are you in the GTA? I've seen more than expected here, but that's still only a couple per year
@@kristjanveski no Montreal , we have couple here, I’ll be taking a trip to Toronto this summer with mine
Love it, the only way you can have a manual gearbox with this engine
Thanks James, awesome video. The Audi 5 cylinders are just magic sounding, topped only by the LFA and Carrera GT 10’s I think! My question for you though is - TT RS or GR Yaris?
excited to receive mine, upgraded from the mk3 2.0 quattro
Love the 5-cylinder ❤ enjoying the Video James!
I've always said if I ever won the lottery I'd buy one of these. The styling is timeless.
If you do win the lottery, make sure you check it over properly. There’s loads of daft things broken on mine 😂
@@xRoRox Yeah, Volkswagen reliability has been atrocious in recent years. My 2017 Golf has had many problems, mostly plastic pieces breaking everywhere.
@@xRoRox I've owned a string of VW products from the MK2 Golf onwards.
Build quality in the MK2/MK3 Golf era were good, and I think it peaked in the MK4 Golf/MK1 TT, B5 A4 era. After that, everything felt cheaper
When we had the MK2 TT, it had so many rattles compared to the early 2000s stuff.
2015 onwards is a minefield of waiting for a big failure.
@@Canadian_Gamer it’s kinda sad really.
Here’s my list:
Wiring loom snapped
Door seals have gone
Stereo buttons won’t press when it’s cold (sounds stupid but it really annoys me)
Windows sometimes refuse to work
Spoiler gets stuck half way
Sunvisor bracket keeps breaking (OEM parts)
Rattle from the boot, turned out to be a loose bolt rolling about inside the fascia
General squeaky noises when on rougher tarmac
Would I pay 30k new for one? No
Used for 7k. Yes
No Bluetooth also annoys me a little but I guess you can’t have everything 😂
@@xRoRox My 2017 Golf has had the interior vent clips snap off on the rear of the centre console just from feet hitting it getting in and out of the car. The drivers side plastic mirror casing has popped off twice while rubbing a wash brush against it and occasionally the dash light for the rear license plate bulb comes on for no reason. The haptic feedback on the in-dash screen is also atrocious.
so hard to find these in north america, i was super lucky to find one for 14kusd a couple years ago.
I have a 5 cvl AWD car.....my xC70 is basically an Audi rally car..;)
@Jay: I was one of the people who owned a TT TDI for three years..
Yeah looking back a weird decision but overall a rational one.
in that time I needed to drive about 30k km/year for my job.
Diesel was the economical way to do that in Germany.
The main reason i bought the TDI was a great offer from my dealer.
I intended to buy a Golf with the same engine, 3 doors and 4 motion
Lead times were lomg and for only 1000 more and funny enough way cheaper insurance I bought the TT
the boot/trunk was big enough to fit my downhill bike. and so i was of to the races with that TT :D
Loved it and YES it was silly but coming from a Golf... :D
great on the Autobahn, too.
Love the 5 cylinder turbo AWDs. If you're in Texas, come try out my V70R. Also great for carrying a dog but unlike the TT, without folding the rear seat!
I got a dishwasher in the back of a mk2 TT once, and drove it across London. Shame that the steering let it down.
Jay em on a Monday? You had my curiosity! Audi Tt R/S? You have my my attention
A remap on these is about 420bhp Full stage 2 is 450 on a happy Dyno.The carbon bit's were standard on the plus. I have a Wavetrac LSD and KW V3's coil-overs etc on mine all helps!
LSD in the front or back?
@@GTRuppsala Wavetrac in the front.
Always liked the TT but the prices, new or used, never really put it on my radar.
The newer version has 400 Hp and I want it 😊 this one comes with manual or automatic I have the vr6 with less power but the sound is great 👍
Happy new year. Nice review and great work. This car has been on my top 10 list for some time and I appreciated the insight. Based on your review its still on the list :) . Looking forward to more reviews in 2023. Cheers from MI.
Buying a mk2 ttrs roadster next month. Ive done lots of research and its easily the best bang for your buck. A simple remap takes these cars very close to a mk1 r8.
Is it worth it
Didn't know an RS Plus existed to be fair, the more you know. These gen TTRS in general are still pretty sought after or bought by petrolheads today to be fair and apparently are very tunable
I actually asked for this video in the last mk2 tts video. Thank you so much!
The Mk 1 Sport were all Quattro Gmbh chassis, based on the 3.2 shell
Excellent review, had considered this when buying a sports car years ago, everything was great except the steering so went Porsche. If I had needed more practicality then would have gone for an M3 over the TT
Given our old passat sport wagon - TDi and DSG is a really good partnership.
I’ve got a mk3 tdi ultra, it’s does 65mpg regular, £20 tax, same service costs as a golf, no Quattro problems to worry about, couldn’t afford the running costs of the petrol, I suppose I get fraction of the experience but I’m ok with that 🤷🏻♂️
Nice channel. I only just discovered it the other day and watched a few vids. Good content, well delivered, well spoken and you touch the points I am specifically interested about as a car enthusiast. Keep it up!
I am in the market for a TT RS so this video is good research :)
More Lexus Content ?
Love your work J, last thing i watch at night so relaxing.
Happy New Years 🎇 from Australia mate 🇦🇺
I always thought the top of the range MK1 TT was the limited edition Quattro Sport 240 not the 3.2.
The TTRS Mk.2 (which I personally call the Titties R Us), is the closest modern equivalent to an Audi Quattro. And that's why, to me, it's the coolest modern Audi. I even considered buying one, and I'm not a VAG fan.
I enjoyed this more than I should of.
I guess it’s a vs against the TTS which makes sense. No idea how I ended up here but It was a good video…would like to see you do something more modern. Good video to send to Audi press though. I’ve subbed, keep it up.
I test drove one of these a few years ago and really wanted to like it. While it was plenty fast and sounded pretty good, the steering feel was completely absent, and I just couldn't get past that. Having driven a Lotus in the past I may have been spoiled on steering feel, but the TTRS's was just completely numb.
That soundtrack makes me want a Audi 5 pot
Hey bud - would you like to try out my Stage 2+ 2018 TTRS convertible? It’s a little pocket rocket! Would love to know what you think 👍🏼
The harsh ride quality was the reason I never bought one of these (and the reason I sold my S3). Fantastic car but very hard to live with as a daily if you live in a city with rubbish roads, which most are.
I went from a lightly modded 2012 STi to one of these and can say they feel VERY similar on road or track. As I'm getting older (44) I think the Audi suited me better and the driveline seems to be more reliable than the Subaru . . .
The quattro drivetrain has always been strong. The engineers at Audi really did the business developing the 5cyl & quattro in the late 70s and throughout the 80s. Fantastic ambition & true pioneers. I think Audi lost the plot by dropping the 5cyl in the 90s. The TT RS was a return to the magic formula 👍
I had gen 3 TT and loved the interior and performance but hated the turbo lag and the precipitous loss of value. Now I have a Z4 3.0si and miss the cushy comfort, but love the torque and driver engagement and its now worth significantly more than I paid for it.
Happy New Year, James ❤ “… it will understeer you Into the nearest hedge …” 😂
I recently sold my 2013 TTS. I'm heartbroken about it. It was a perfect car for me after years of practical Dad cars. But it was awfully practical aside from having a backseat that was only suitable for children without legs. It's tragic they won't be making them any more.
Ok, so I'm looking to add a 3rd car to my stable. Currently, I have a disco 4 and an exige. I live in a cold environment, with a good amount of snow 4-5 months a year, so awd is a plus. The TTRS is at the bottom of my list price wise, but I've wanted one since they came out. Other options in my list have the r8 v10 rtronic, r8 v8 manual, 996 gt3, 996 turbo, 996 c4s, etc. No 997s, I've owned a c2s, and the gt3 is out of budget. I'm also considering gt350r (the noise!) and v8 vantages. I feel like I'd be more keen to drive the TTRS more often than the others. I'm not sure why (maybe the value), but that's a plus also. Am I being a bit silly for considering the TTRS over the other cars on my list?
I didn’t know they did those in manual because the rs3 8p was only dsg
I agree with the 19" problem. I drive an Audi S1 and on the A1's that share the same wheel pattern as the TT, 19" is far too harsh of a ride in comparison to 18 or 17s. A lot of people fit 18s with 225 40 18 tyres instead of stock 225 35 18 for better ride. After doing that I didn't question missing mag ride.
a1 is 5x100 and tt 8j is 5x112 and tt is based on golf platform opposite to a1 as it`s based on vw polo/ skoda fabia platform. I`m using 18 inch wheels on my tt and its ok.
so I am not allowed to say anything on my 20" 255 wheels (audi le mans optional extras for the rs) but they are doing fine and not as harsh as you would think on a non-mag ride car
also I came from a 3.2 mk2 w 18" wheels and mag ride and that felt worse than this...
@@UKfromadrone mk3 is softer than mk2 even with mag ride.. mqb platform is less stiffer when it comes to suspension setup than pq35.
My car also has five cylinders so is practically identical to this. With just a few exceptions. 1) It's a 2005 Volvo S80 D5 SE Lux and, by comparison a land yacht, 2) It's a diesel and 3) It's worth less than £1,000. Otherwise, they're the same car.
Had one, nice sound but under steered when pushing on
I test drove a diesel in 2009 because it was the only one that I could have had on the company car scheme. Front heavy and tried to push wide, so disappointing. I didn’t get one but emissions driven car schemes might be one reason people had them. In the event I canned the car scheme and got my own e90 330i!
I remember when this car came out and it was absolutely trashed for the heavy front end and understeer. Now just because it’s older it’s suddenly peak Audi. The new cars are better in just about every conceivable way.
The thing is on the road, you have to be driving like a total nutcase to make them understeer. A lot of reviews back when this car came out were track based, and on a track you will notice the understeer way more, because its much easier & safer to drive on the limit there. Its kind of an unfair test on it because its not really designed for the track, its designed to be an all weather, easy to use, fast road car - hence why it understeers, because its more predictable and easier to get out of. It isn't really any different for the mk3 TT, but since a lot of hot hatches now have this kind of power and understeer, it doesn't stand out as something weird anymore. Also you can tune the car to be more tail happy fairly inexpensively, with a stiffer rear ARB for example.
This is doing 30mpg with over 400hp, my 250hp focus st225 is doing 21mpg lol
definitely Peak Audi! 5Cylinder 20V Turbo is one of the best engines!
How trends change. Diesel TTs got mocked for being wannabe supercars, now those are gone and we have wannabe crossovers. Everyone's getting ready for the next apocalypse it seems.
Great car but unfortunatelly sales doesn't support that claim obviously, else, AUDI sadly wouldn't discontinue it
I prefer the sound of the older five cylinder cars, like the Type43 and 44 Audis, and Volvos 850/70. The less agressive but more melodious. ..but: I do enjoy a good engine, and i would be very hard pressed to choose even a six cylinder over the five pot burble. So yeah, this would win over the wonderful Porsches for me.
As a former owner of one of these and a number of other RS Audis I have to say that the steering in these was horrible; very vague and no feedback. The car also understeers significantly and is very reluctant to turn into corners.
The Mk3 TT RS, by comparison, is in a different league with none of those faults; the front end feels very light and it turns in very sharply, no doubt due to the torque vectoring.
I found the Mk2 disappointing and the least enjoyable RS Audi I have driven.
Affordable dream car right here. I say affordable, it's still way out of reach 😂
That sound is just wicked!
Sounds like broken hairdryer
Would love to see you in an 8P RS3 as it was of the same generation as this. Personally I was very disappointed with my RS3 having owned AMG and M Cars prior, I assumed this would be largely the same! Maybe be I assumed wrong
"looks a bit like an R8"?! Errrr... No, not unless you have cataracts 😂
A friend had one until recently. I didn't get a chance to drive it but it was impressively rapid and sounded great. Through the bends it seemed to have plenty grip but even from the passenger seat I could feel the systems working their hardest to get it round without falling off the road.
Oh, yeah, and he took it track where it was genuinely scary fast but never felt fully under control. He crashed it... Twice!